Stapling machine



May 14, 1929. A. D. TIBBAILS STAPLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16,1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l J0 A? 4 45 f May 14, 1929. T|BBAL$ 1,713,011

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1925 s sheets-sheet 2 May 14, 1929. A. D. TIBBALS STAPLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fiwezzior Maria fifials till Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES ALBEB'J. D. 'JPIBZBALS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STAPLING MACHIN E.

Application filed September 16, 1925'. Serial No. 56,832.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements; in stapling machines, the objects being to provide a device of the class described which is eflicient in operatlon and automatic in its action, thereby insuring sequential operationof the'various mechanisms of the device and compelling the completion of each stroke-of the machine.

' Further objects of the invention are to provide automatic locking means for preventing a release or restoration of the severin mechanism after a staple has been severed rom the staple strip so that thesevered staple may be discharged from the machine by the completion of the staple stroke thereof before a new staple can be severed from the staple strip, thereby preventing clogging of the machine or the breakage of any of the mechanism.

Still further objects of the invention areto correlate the parts of the machine whereby only one staple at a time can be fed to the severing and settin mechanism in order to prevent clogging 0 the machine. 4

Other objects of the invention are to provide means for maintaining the strip of staples in proper spaced relation with respect to the mechanism operating upon said staples and to provide automatically releasable means between the actuating mechanism and the staple feeding mechanism, and to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of a machine of the class described and to eliminate all danger of injury thereto through improper manipulation thereof.

With these and other objects in view' my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 .is a longitudinal cross section through the machine, showing the same in extended or normal-position.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section taken on line- 22 of Figure 1 and showing the underside of the upper section of the machine. I

Figure 3is a horizontal cross section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing a plan view of the lower section thereof.

, Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1. I

Figurefi is a. sectional view similar to Figure 1 but showing the machine in actuated I or' closed osition.

' Fi ure is a vertical cross section taken on line -7 of Figure 1. Figure 8 is-aper'spective detail view of the feed plate. J

Figure 9 is a perspective detail view of the anvil and guide member. t

Figure 10 is a perspective detail view of the feedingfin gers. I

Figure 11 is a detail view of the front end of the anvil member, feeding fingers, and the retaining member. 7

Figure 12 is a detail view showing the slip dog mechanism in displaced position.

Figure 13 is a perspective detail view of the slip dog. I

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail view showing the spacing wheel in engagement with a staple strip. a

Figure 15 is a cross sectional view on line 15-15 of Figure. 6. i

Figure 16 is a detail view showing the locking mechanism in locked position.

Figure 17 is a cross sectional view on line I 1717 of Figure 16. r. v

Figure 18 is a fragmental top plan view-of a .staple strip.

, Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 10 indicates a pair of handles each of which has its forward end bifurcated and pivotally connected together on each side of the axis of the device as indicated at 11. 12 is theupper jaw pivotally connected to the forward end of one handle by a horizontally disposed pin 14 and pivotally connected to the other handle'by a horizontally disposed pin 15, which pin is located rearwardly of the pivotal connection of said handles and on a horizontal plane with in 14:, thereby maintaining said jaw in para el position. The lower jaw 16 is-pivotally connected to the forward ends of one of the ban dies by a horizontally disposed pin 17 and a pin 18 connects the rear end of jaw 16 to the opposite handle at a point located rearwardly of the pivotal connection of said handles. Pins 17 and 18 are arranged in a horizontal plane, thereby-maintaining jaw 16 1n parallelism withjaw 12; The rear end of jaw 12 which engages pin 15 is provided with an elongated slot 15 and the rear end of jaw 16 is cut away whereby when said handles are closed said aws are allowed to-move relatively to said handles.

A staple severing member 19 is fixed to the forward end of jaw 12 and extends downwardly at right angles to said jaw and has its extreme end 19 provided with a cutting edge for severing each staple from the staple strip when the handles are closed. Jaw 12 is formed inverted U-shape in cross section and forms a housing for a suitable locking stroke compelling mechanism 20 and jaw ,16 is also formed U-shape in cross section and has arranged therein staple feeding and guiding mechanisms 21 and 22, respectively.

A staple support 24 is arranged in jaw 16 and has a fixed relation therewith by having its forward end apertured for the reception of pins 17 and having its rear end attached to said jaw by a pin 24. Support 24 is preferably of inverted U-shape having its horizontal portion adapted to receive and support a suitable staple strip with the legs of the staples presented downwardly against the outer faces of the vertically disposed web portions of said support.

The extreme forward end of the support terminates in a horizontally presented anvil portion 25 which lies immediately to the plane of severing member 19 and cooperates therewith in severing one staple at a time from the strip. The end of the anvil portion 25 and the forward edges of vertically disposed wall portions are cut at an angle to the vertical plane, as indicated at 25, to provide a beveled cutting edge 25 preferably ground which cooperates with the cutting edge of member 19 in severing and setting of the staples, and said wall portions terminate in horizontally and outwardly presented ledge portions 26 which extend a suitable distance rearwardly and are spaced from jaws 16.

Pivotally connected at 27 to the side walls of support 24 is a pivotal member 28 to the upper end of which are pivotally connected the rear ends of a pair of fingers 29. This upper end of member 28 extends upwardly through a suitable opening 30 formed in the horizontally disposed wall and the vertical wall portions of support 24. Fingers 29 which are horizontally disposed, diverge forwardly and outwardly from the upper end of member 28 to each side of support 24. Member 28 is provided with a heel portion 28 which extends downwardly into a slot 31 formed in the horizontal wall of a feed plate 32 which is disposed in jaw 16 below member 24 and extends re'arwardly thereof and is provided with two pairs of upstanding lugs 33 which are arranged to each side of pin 18. These lugs are spaced a suitable distance apart to provide suitable lost motion between said pin and said lugs.

A housing 34 is arranged on jaw 16 and encloses the parts just mentioned. This housing is preferably formed of inverted U-shapc and in the rear end is provided with a horizontally disposed slot 34 for receiving pin 18 when the forward end of the housing is fixed to pin 17. The top wall 36 of this housing is provided at its forward end with an elongated slot 37 for receiving a staple guiding and-retaining element 38, the rear end of which is fixed to top wall 36 as indicated at 39, and the forward end of which yieldingly bears against the staple strip at a point adjacent to the anvil portion 25 as shown in Figure 1. j

The forward end of retaining member 38 is enlarged as indicated in Figure 3 and oecupies a position in the enlarged end 37 of slot 37 and is provided on its sides with downwardly presented cam portions or depressions 38 and with downwardly presented fingers 38", which latter are adapted to bear against. the rear edges of the horizontal portions of each staple, thereby preventing rearward or retracting movement of the staple strip. Depressions 38 act as cams and serve to raise the fingers 38 during the forward movement of the staple strip so as not to impede the movement of said strip. The forward ends of fingers 29 terminate in laterally presented fingers 29 which are designed to engage the rear edges of the vertically disposed legs of each staple and feed the staple stripforwardly during the forward movement of the fingers 29.

In using the machine, a staple strip is inserted into housing 36 onto the support 24- and when handles 10 and 11 are closed, jaws 12 and 16 are brought together as shown in Figure 6. Pins 14 and 17 having fixed pivotal engagement with jaws 12 and 16 do not change their relative positions with respect thereto, while pins 15 and 18 having a slot and pin connection with jaw 12 and housing 36, respectively, are allowed to move rearwardly while the jaws 12 and 16 and housing 36 move forwardly. Feed plate 32 by virtue of the interenga'gement of lugs 33 with pin 18 is caused to move rearwardly. In doing so, the forward end of slot 31 formed in said plate engages heel portion or portions 28 of member 28, causing the latter to rock, whereby fingers 29 are moved forwardly to advance the staple strip one step and position that staple which was located on the anvil portion 25 beyond said anvil in the path of movement of severing member 19.

The operations just described take place during the initial closing movement of handles 10 and 11 so that when the severing member 19 enters the slot 37 in housing 36 a staple has been positioned in readiness for the cutting operation. The continued downward movement of member 19 first severs the staple from the strip and drives it downwardly through the overhanging portion of housing 36 against-the horizontally disposed plate or extension 16 of jaw 16. This extension is I ends of horizontally and outwardly presented ledges 26. Upon the. opening or outward movement of the handles, jaws 12 and 16 move outwardly away from each other and feed plate 32 is actuated in the opposite direction by pin 18, whereby'the raised portion 32* entill gages the rear face of heel portion 28 so that member 28 is rocked rearwardly and fingers 29 are retracted into a feeding enga ementwith the staple strip. Fingers 29 are ormed resilient and are disposed between the side walls of support 24 and the downwardly pre- Tsented legs of the staples so that during the rearward movement of said fingers, projections 29 pass underthe legs of the staples and upon passing the same move outwardly in position for engagement with the rear edges thereof. a

In using the device, it frequently happens that the handles are pressed together sufficiently to feed the staple strip forwardly to place one staple in the cutting position and the handles are then released without complating the stroke thereof. The releasing of the handles restores fingers 29 into staple en-l gaging positionsand unless some means was provided for automatically disabling the feeding mechanism the next operation of the. P handles would actuate fingers 29 to move forward and the staple strip having been already positioned by the previous unfinished opera tion of the handles, fingers 29 would be unable to move forwardly, thereby causing serious damage to themachine. ln order to prevent the inopportune opera tion of the feeding mechanism which might cause breakage of the machine or clogging of the staple strip, I provide means which are operatively interposed between an operating part of the device, such as pin1'8, and the actuating element of the feeding mechanism 22 which, when fingers 29 are unable to operate 'or excessive pressure is necessary to operate them, is displaced to disable the operative connection between the machine and the feeding mechanism, thereby rendering the latter inoperative. This means consists of a slip dog 40 which is loosely arranged on pin 18 and extends downwardly and rearwardly into engagement with an inclined face 41 "formed transversely in plate 32. This plate is apertured immediately adjacent to said cam face as indicated at 44 in order toaccommodate slip dog 41) and provide proper interenga'geinent between said cam face and said dog.

A resilient member 44 is anchored at one end to slip dog 40 and has its opposite end bearing against plate 32 at a point forwardly of pin 18, and serves to maintain said slip dog in a position cooperatively engaging or to be engaged by the cam face of feeding plate 32.

This cam face as well as the cam engaging portion of slip dog 40 are designed to effect operating connection between pin 18 and feed plate 32 under normal ,operatingconditions. When an excessive pressure is required to operate the handles, due to the previous posi tioning of the staple strip or for any other reasons, the slip dog 40 is caused to rock rearwardly on pin 18 and move out of engagement with the cam face of feed plate 82 so that the latter and the feed mechanism connected therewith are rendered inoperative when the handles and the jaws continue in their staple severing and setting movements. Upon the restoration of the handles to their normal positions, slip dog 40 is restored into operative engagement with the cam face 41 by means of the resilient member 44, thereby enabling the feeding mechanism to operate during the next operation of the machine.

The locking mechanism 20 which is used to lock the machine against restoring movement after the staple has been severed, thereby compelling 'the completion of the stroke of the machine, consists of two members 45 and 46 arranged injuxtaposed relation with in the U-shaped jaw 12 and to one side thereof. The forward end of member 45 is pivotally mounted on pin 14 while the rear end of member 46 is pivotally mounted on pin 15. Member 45 is provided-with laterally spaced and downwardly presented lugs 47 and 48 which overhang and maintain member 46 in operative relation with member 45. Member 46 is formed with a longitudinally disposed elongated slot 49 which is provided in theuppcr face with a V-shaped notch 50 for receiving a lug 51 which projects laterally from member 45'. The V-shaped notch 50 has one face 5O formed at right angles to the upper face 49 of slot 49 and the other face 50 in inclined forwardly and down wardly to form a cam face and extends a suitable distance below the" plane of face 49 Lug 511 has a vertically disposed face 51 which is designed to engage the vertically disposed face 50 of notch 50 and an angularly disposed face 51 adapted to engage the inclined face 50 of said notch. Member 45 is provided with a horizontally disposed lug 52 which projects laterally from member 45 into the slot 49 of member 46 and is spaced a suitable distance from lug 51. h This elongated lug 52 is formed V-shape in cross section, thereby providing oppositely inclinedfaces 52 and 52 which are adapted to be engaged by the free end 54 of a resilient mem ber 55 which is fixed toplate 46 and extends longitudinally thereof a suitable distance. The end 54 is preferably V-shape in cross sec 'tion to facilitate the interengagement of the corresponding inclined faces of said end 54 and lug 52.

Normally or when the handles occupy open position as shown in Figure 1, plates and 46 occupy retracted positions relative to each other and lug 51 engages the straight upper face 49 of slot 49. IVhcn the handles are depressed a suflicient distance and plates 45 and 46 are moved in the opposite directions by virtue of the engagement with pins 14 and 15, respectively, lug 51 enters the V-shapcd notch 50 due to the influence of spring 55, the free end of which engages the lower inclined face 52 of lug 52, thereby creating'tension between the two plates, which tension causes plate 45 to rock upwardly a slight distance and plate 46 to move downwardly. Upon the engagement of lug 51 in notch 50, the machine is locked against retractive movement, thereby compelling the completion of the stroke of the machine. Upon the continuation of the operating stroke of the machine, plates 45 and 47 continue in their relative outward movements and lug 51 moves forwardly while the notch 50 is retracted rearwardly. During this movement the inclined face 51 of lug 51 rides upon the inclined wall 50 of notch 50, thereby causing relative rocking movement of plates 45, and 46, plate 45 carrying lug 51 and lug 52 being moved downwardly and plate 46 carrying spring being rocked upward- 1y. This relative rocking movement of said plates positions the V-shaped end 54 of men her 55 in alignment with the upper inclined face 52 of lug 52 so that upon the restoration or home movement of the machine, said end 54 rides on the upper face 52 bringing lug 51 against the straight horizontally disposed face 49 in readiness for the next operation.

The length of lug 52 and its position with respect to end 54 is arranged so as to permit-disengagement of end 54 from said lug immediately before the completion of each stroke of the machine sothat said end can engage alternatelv the inclined faces 52 and 52 of lug 52. While only one notch 50 is shown, any number of notches may be used in order to lock themaehine in any stage'of the operation of the machine. In the present instance, the location of notch 50 is arranged so as to lock the machine immediately after the severing operation of the staple so that before the machine can be operated to sever another staple, the first staple has to be cleared from the machine.

A coiled spring 56 is arranged in jaws 12 adj accnt to the locking mechanism 20 and has its ends secured to pins14 and.15, thereby maintaining the machine in open or home position and restoring the machine after each operatimi.

The staple strip A is preferably provided in a longitudinally disposed row of apertures 13 which are spaced in alignment with the longitudinal axis of each staple as shown in Figure 17 and the support 24 has revolubly mounted therein as at 57 a spacer wheel 58, the teeth of which are adapted to enter the apertures formed in said staple strip and insure the accuracy of the feeding movement of the strip in the machine.

The upper faces of ledges 26 are preferably inclined upwardly and rcarwardly and are adapted when engaged by the ends of the legs of the staples to throw the extreme forward staple slightly at an angle in order to assure the spacing of the ends of the legs of saidstaple away from the ends of said ledges This precaution is advisable in view of the factthat sometimes the legs of the staples are bent rearwardly by improper handling and unless some means are provided to offset this condition, the ends of such legs would bear against the extreme ends of said ledges, resulting in displacing such a staple during the setting operation.

Lug 52 is preferably inclined upwardly and forwardly to properly correlate the relative pivotal movements of plates 45 and 46 to effect accurate timing of the release and locking of said plates.

I claim:

1. In a stapling machine, a pair of jaws movable relative to each other, a staple strip support carried by one of said jaws, a staple severing and driving member carried by the other jaw, a staple feeding mechanism cooperating with said support, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said support and pivotally connected at one end to said feeding mechanism, a plate reciprocally carried by the jaw in which said staple support is mounted and in operative engagement with said pivotal member of said feeding mechanism, and locking means arran ed in one of said jaws for preventing retractive movement of said jaws before the completion of the operating stroke.

2. In a stapling machine, a pair of jaws movable relative to each other, a staple strip support carried by one of said jaws, a staple severing and driving means carried by the other jaw, staple strip feeding fingers movable relative to said support, a vertically disposed member pivotally mounted in said support and pivotally connected at its upper end to the rear ends of said feeding fingers, and a feed plate operable to actuate said pivotal member.

3. In a stapling machine, a pair of jaws movable relative to each other. a staple strip support carried by one of saiu jaws, a staple severing and driving means carried by the other jaw, staple strip feeding fingers movable relative to said support, a feed plate operable to actuate said fingers, and a releasable member for actuating said plate, said member being releasable to disable said plate and render said fingers inoperative.

4. In a stapling machine, a pair of jaws movable relative to each other, a staple severing and setting member carried by the upper jaw, a staple strip support carried by the lower jaw and terminating in an anvil portion in cooperating relation with said staple severing member, mechanism cooperating with said support for feeding a staple strip forward, said. mechanism including a longitudinally movable plate, and a member car ried by one of said handles for actuating said plate, said member being in releasable engagement with said plate whereby excessive pressure applied to said member will disengagethe latter from said plate thereby disabling said mechanism.

5. In a stapling machine, a pair of jaws movable relative to each other, a staple severing and setting member carried by the upper jaw, a staple strip support carried by the lower jaw and terminating in an anvil portion in cooperating relation with said staple severing member, mechanism'arranged to co operate with said support for feeding a staple strip forwardly, and automatically releasable means for rendering said feeding mechanism inoperative.

6.. In a stapling machine, a pair of jaws movable relative to each other, a staple severing and driving member carried by one of said jaws, a staple strip support carried by the other jaw and terminating in an anvil portion in cooperative relation with said staple severing member, mechanism arranged to cooperate with said support for feeding a staple strip forward, a feed plate arranged within said support for actuating said feeding mechanism, and a slip dog for actuating said feed plate and automatically displaceable from engagement with said plate for rendering the latter inoperative when said feeding mechanism is unable to function.

7. In a stapling machine, the combination with a pair of pivotally interconnected manually operable members, a pair of jaws movable thereby relative to each other, a staple severing and driving mechanism and feeding mechanism for feeding staple strips, of a horizontally disposed, longitudinally movable feed platefor actuating said feeding mechanism, and a positively actuated slip dog operatively engaging said feed plateand releasable from engagement therewith for rendering said feeding mechanism inoperative. 1

8. In a stapling machine, the combination with a pair of pivotally interconnected manually operable members, a pair of jaws movable thereby relative to each other, a staple V severing and driving mechanism and a feedliltli ing mechanism for feeding staple strips',-of a horizontally disposed reciprocable feed plate,

and a slip dog adapted to be actuated in co- 'frelation with said Jaws, said slip dog being 7 in yielding engagement with said feed plate for operating the same, said slip dog being adapted to move out of operative engagement 'with said feed plate when excessive pressure is applied tosaid slip dog.

, 9. In a stapling machine, the combination with a pair of pivotally interconnected manually operable members, -a pair of jaws movable thereby relative to each other, a staple severing and drivin mechanism and a feeding mechanism for feedin staple strips, said feedingmechanism, inclu ing a horizontally disposed reciprocable feed plate for operating said feeding mechanism, of an actuatin member adapted to beoperated by a part 0% said staple severing and driving mechanism and having yielding operative engagement with said plate, said actuating member being" releasable from engagement with said plate when said feeding mechanism is rendered inoperative.

10. In a stapling machine, the combination with a staple strip support, of apair of feeding fingers operatively arranged therein for engaging and feeding a staple strip forwardly, a movable feed plate for actuating said feed fingers, and aslip member operable by a part of said stapling machine and in operative engagement with said feed-plate for actuating the same, said slip member being automatically releasable for disabling said .feed plate'when said feed fingers are subjected to unusual strain.

'11. Ina stapling machine, the combination with a staple strip support, of a pair of feed fingers in cooperative relation with said ,support' for engaging and feeding a staple strip forwardly, a movable -feed plate for actuating said feed fingers, a slip member operablc by a part of said stapling machine, and means for yieldingly maintaining said slip member in operative relation with said feed plate for permitting automatic disengagement of said slip member from said feed plate.

12. In a stapling machine, a pair ofjaws movable relative to each other, a staple strip support carried by one of said jaws, a staple severing and driving member carried by the other jaw, a member pivotally mounted in said support, a pair of fingers secured to one end of said member and extending longitudinally of said support for engaging a sta le strip and feeding it forwardly, a mem er movable longitudinally of said support for engaging said pivotal member'and actuating the same, and means for actuating said movable member, said actuating means being antomatically releasable from operative engagement with said member when said feed fingers are unable to function properly.

13. A locking mechanism for stapling machines comprising a pair of plates movable provided with a lateral lug projecting into said slot and engageable by said notch for preventing relative movement of said plates in one direction before the completion of the initial or opposite movements of said plates.

14. A locking mechanism for stapling machines comprising a pair of plates movable relative to each other, one of said plates being provided with a slot having a notch formed therein. the other plate being provided ,with a lateral lug projecting into said slot and engageable by said notch for preventing relative movement of said plates in one direction before the completion of the initial or opposite movement of said plates, and means for effecting the cooperative relation of said lug and said notch.

15. A locking mechanism for stapling machines comprising a pair of plates movable relative to each other, one of said plates being provided with a slot having a notch formed therein, the other plate being provided with a lateral lug projecting into said slot and cngageable by said notch for preventing relative movement of said plates in one direction before the completion of the initial oropposite movement of said plates, and means for insuring the interengagen'ient of said lug and said notch during the movement of said plates in one direction and for insuring the disengagement thereof during the movement of said plates in the opposite direetion.

16. A locking mechanism for stapling machines comprising a pair of juxtaposed members mounted at their outer ends and movable relative to eachother, one of said members being provided with a transversely disposed notch, and the other with a laterally presented lug adapted to engage said notch during the outward moven'icnt of said members for preventing return movement of said members before the completion of the outward movement.

17. A locking mechanism for stapling machines comprising a pair of juxtaposed members mounted at their outer ends and movable relative to each other, one of said members being provided with a transversely disposed notch, the other with a laterally presented lug adapted to engage said notch during the outward movement of said members for preventing return movement oi said members before the completion of the outward movement, an elongated V-shaped formation on one of said members, and a resilient element carried by the other member and adapted to alternately engage at the completion of each stroke the opposite sides of said formation to efl'eet engagement and disengagement. between said notch and said lug.

'In testimony whereof I hereunto atiix my signature this 5th day of September, 1925.

ALBERT D. TIBBALS. 

